Galloping riding toy

ABSTRACT

A galloping riding toy has a frame with a head tube, a fork rotatably located within said head tube, a front axle attached to said fork and passing through an off-center point in a front wheel, rear wheels attached to an end of said frame opposite said head tube, and a body attached to said frame.

PRIORITY

The applicant claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Applicationfiled Nov. 22, 2005, under application number 60/738,705.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

None.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a riding toy for children.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many children enjoy pretending to ride a horse or similar animal ordriving various vehicles. Thus, the prior art discloses rocking horses,tricycles, and other devices. U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,856 discloses arocking horse that can be configured to roll forward. U.S. Pat. No.3,999,771 describes a wheeled riding horse in which the rear wheels areattached to a spring, enabling the rider to bounce and achieve agalloping sensation. U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,776 is for a powered horse thatcan be rocked and moved forward and backward. These and other deviceseither do not impart a realistic galloping motion, do not have means toinitiate forward motion suitable for a young child, or have otherdisadvantages.

Thus, there is a need for a riding toy that can be propelled forward bya young child, that provides a realistic galloping motion, and that issafe enough for use by a young child. The present invention fulfillsthis and other needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention claimed in this patent application is a galloping ridingtoy having a frame with a head tube, a fork, a body, a front wheel, andrear wheels. A front axle passes through the front wheel some distanceaway from the center of the wheel and is connected to the fork. The forkis rotatably inserted into the head tube. The rear wheels are attachedto an end of the frame opposite from the head tube. The body is attachedaround the frame, providing a place for the child to sit. Because thefront axle is off-center in the front wheel, the toy will move up anddown as it moves forward as though it were galloping.

The above summary of the present invention is not intended to representeach embodiment, or every aspect, of the present invention. The presentinvention also includes any additional features and benefits which areapparent from the detailed description and figures set forth below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a side view of the galloping riding toy.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the galloping riding toy.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the frame and fork assembly.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the fork assembly.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the galloping ridingtoy.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of an alternate embodiment of the frame andfork assembly.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments are shown by way of example inthe drawings and are described in detail herein. It should beunderstood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited tothe particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover allmodifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spiritand scope of the invention as described.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a galloping riding toy (10) is shown having aframe (11) with a head tube (12), and a fork (13) rotatably insertedinto the head tube (12). A front axle (14) is attached to the fork (13)and passes through an off-center point in a front wheel (15). Rearwheels (16) on a rear axle (17) are attached to an end of the frame (11)opposite the head tube (12). A steering bar or handlebar (18) extendsthrough a head support (19) attached to the fork (1 3). A body (20),preferably in the shape of an animal, is attached to the frame (11). Thebody (20) may have a flexible neck portion (21) to allow the fork (13)and front wheel (15) to turn when the steering bar (18) is rotated. Thefront axle (14) may have a center portion (22), stem portions (23)perpendicular to the center portion (22), and pedal portions (24), towhich pedals (25) are attached.

Referring to FIGS. 5-6, a galloping riding toy (10) is shown having aframe (11) with a head tube (12), and a fork (13) rotatably insertedinto the head tube (12). A front axle (14) is attached to the fork (13)and passes through an off-center point in a front wheel (15). Rearwheels (16) on a rear axle (17) are attached to an end of the frame (11)opposite the head tube (12). A steering bar or handlebar (18) isattached to the fork (13). A body (20), preferably in the shape of ananimal, is attached to the frame (11). The body (20) has an aperture(26) to allow the steering bar (18), the fork (13), and front wheel (15)to be turned freely.

A child may sit on the body and propel the toy forward either by walkingalong the ground or pushing on the pedals in the preferred embodiment.Because the front axle is off-center in the front wheel, the toy willmove up and down as though it were galloping. In an alternateembodiment, a pedal assembly is attached to the frame beneath the riderand is connected by appropriate means (for example, a sprocket andchain) to the rear axle so that the rear axle is turned when the pedalassembly is rotated.

In the preferred embodiment, the child may change direction by turningthe steering bar or handlebar. In another embodiment, the steering baror handlebar may be outside the body. In yet another alternateembodiment, the body does not fully enclose the fork, and a headseparate from the body is attached to the fork and may be turned tochange direction.

In another embodiment, ribs are attached to the frame to provideadditional support for the body. If more support is needed, a skeletonmay be attached to the frame to support the body.

The body may be covered with imitation fur, skin, or scales depending onthe animal it resembles. A battery-powered device may be attached to thebody or frame to make noises appropriate to the animal or other shapethe body resembles. The body could be of virtually any shape, includinga horse, a dinosaur, or a vehicle.

In the preferred embodiment, the frame is lightweight but sturdy. Itwill be recognized that the frame may have varying dimensions andconfigurations to accomplish the purpose of safely supporting the bodyand the rider. In one embodiment, multiple body shapes may be fitted tolike frames, increasing versatility and potentially decreasingmanufacturing and marketing costs.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by wayof example in the drawings and herein described in detail. It should beunderstood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention tothe particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is tocover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as described.

1. A galloping riding toy, comprising: a frame having a head tube, afork rotatably located within said head tube, a front axle attached tosaid fork and passing through an off-center point in a front wheel, rearwheels attached to an end of said frame opposite said head tube, and abody attached to said frame.
 2. The toy of claim 1 in which said body issubstantially hollow.
 3. The toy of claim 2 in which said frame issubstantially located within said body.
 4. The toy of claim 3 furthercomprising a head attached to said fork.
 5. The toy of claim 3 furthercomprising a steering bar attached to said fork.
 6. The toy of claim 5in which said body has a flexible neck portion.
 7. The toy of claim 3further comprising one or more ribs attached to said frame.
 8. The toyof claim 3 in which said body is in the shape of an animal.
 9. The toyof claim 8, further comprising means to play animal sounds attached toone of said frame or said body.
 10. They toy of claim 1 furthercomprising: a rear axle extending between said rear wheels, a pedalassembly attached to said frame, and means to rotate said rear axle whensaid pedal assembly is rotated.
 11. The toy of claim 1 in which saidfront axle comprises a center portion attached to said fork and passingthrough an off-center point in said front wheel, a first and a secondstem portion, and a first and a second pedal portion; said stem portionsbeing substantially perpendicular to said center portion and said pedalportions, each of said stem portions lying substantially in a planedefined by said center portion and a point in the center of said frontwheel and extending from said center portion toward the point in thecenter of said front wheel, said pedal portions being substantiallyparallel to said center portion; and in which pedals are attached tosaid pedal portions of said front axle.
 12. The toy of claim 3 in whichsaid body is removably attached to said frame.
 13. The toy of claim 12,further comprising a second body which may be removably attached to saidframe when said body has been removed.
 14. A galloping riding toy,comprising: a frame having a head tube; a fork rotatably located withinsaid head tube; a front axle comprising a center portion attached tosaid fork and passing through an off-center point in a front wheel, afirst and a second stem portion, and a first and a second pedal portion;said stem portions being substantially perpendicular to said centerportion and said pedal portions, each of said stem portions lyingsubstantially in a plane defined by said center portion and a point inthe center of said front wheel, said pedal portions being substantiallyparallel to said center portion; pedals attached to said pedal portions;rear wheels attached to an end of said frame opposite said head tube; ahead support attached to said fork; a steering bar attached to said headsupport; and a substantially hollow body, said frame being locatedwithin said body and attached thereto, said fork and said head supportalso being located within said body, said body having a flexible neckportion located to allow said fork to be rotated.
 15. The toy of claim14 in which said stem portions extend from said center portion towardthe point in the center of said front wheel.
 16. The toy of claim 15 inwhich said body is in the shape of an animal.
 17. A galloping ridingtoy, comprising: a frame having a head tube; a fork rotatably locatedwithin said head tube; a front axle comprising a center portion attachedto said fork and passing through an off-center point in a front wheel, afirst and a second stem portion, and a first and a second pedal portion;said stem portions being substantially perpendicular to said centerportion and said pedal portions, each of said stem portions lyingsubstantially in a plane defined by said center portion and a point inthe center of said front wheel, said pedal portions being substantiallyparallel to said center portion; pedals attached to said pedal portions;rear wheels attached to an end of said frame opposite said head tube; asubstantially hollow body, said frame being located within said body andattached thereto; and a steering bar attached to said fork and passingthrough an opening in said body.
 18. The toy of claim 17 in which saidstem portions extend from said center portion toward the point in thecenter of said front wheel.
 19. The toy of claim 18 in which said bodyis in the shape of an animal.